CONFORMATIONS OF CYCLOHEXANE

Cyclohexane has one exceptionally stable conformer, the chair (below).  Note how the axial CH bonds are parallel to each other, pointing in alternate directions as one proceeds around the ring.  The equatorial bonds also alternate between "up" and "down" orientations, but diverge from each other.

There is one other highly symmetrical conformation, the boat (below).  However the boat is not a conformer....

..... it is an energy maximum.  Twisting one side relative to the othergives the "twist-boat" (below), the alternative confomer to the chair.

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